Pastor Ben Narayanan serves as Lead Pastor of Avant Life Church alongside his wife, Emma. Known for his bold and innovative approach to ministry, Ben is passionate about communicating the message of Christ with clarity, creativity, and courage. He is committed to inspiring people to live fully for God while raising leaders who can carry the church’s vision forward.

Ben and Emma have been married since 2009 and are parents to three children Levi, Alice, and Eden. In 2017, they sensed a clear call from God to plant a life-giving church in Canada. Avant Life Church launched in North Vancouver in September 2018, expanded to Squamish and Surrey in 2021, and most recently planted a location in downtown Toronto in fall 2025.

Ben is gifted in raising leaders, pioneering kingdom works, gospel hospitality, as well as consistently encouraging emerging leaders to step confidently into their God-given calling with faith, spiritual authority, and humble surrender to God.

Born and raised in Australia in a Christian family, Emma served on staff at a church as an event manager, worship pastor, and youth and young adults pastor before hearing a clear call to plant a life-giving church in Vancouver, B.C.

In 2017, she and Ben moved from Australia to Canada to pioneer Avant Life Church, which launched in North Vancouver in September 2018. In September 2021, they planted two more locations in Squamish and Surrey. Most recently, they began the new work of planting a church in the downtown core of Toronto, Ontario.

Emma is passionate about leadership development, church planting, worship ministry, and teaching. She also encourages leaders to step into their calling with bold faith, spiritual authority, and humble surrender to God. Emma presently serves on the PAOC General Executive.

Emma has been married to Ben since 2009, and they have a son and two daughters together.

Tim Schindel is the founder and national director of Leading Influence, a non-partisan chaplaincy ministry providing spiritual and emotional care to elected officials and their staff in legislatures across Canada and on Parliament Hill.

He is the author of Towards A Better Canada and host of the Towards A Better Canada podcast. His work focuses on equipping Christians to engage public life as bridge-builders — people who lower the temperature, strengthen communities, and serve the common good.

Tim speaks with practical insight, humour, and hope about leadership under pressure, relational influence, and the unique opportunity the Church has to contribute to the well-being of a nation.

He lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with his wife, Barb.

Mark Colwell currently serves as the director of emerging leaders for the British Columbia and Yukon District. He is an experienced leader and communicator, passionate about investing in people and helping them grow.

Mark and his wife, Jenni, share a deep commitment to encouraging others toward a closer relationship with God, enjoying time with family, and occasionally embarking on epic adventures. His ministry career has been marked by an intentional focus on shaping both disciples and leaders — work he has carried out in his home and across the ministries he has superintended.

Married for 32 years, Jenni and her husband, Mark, have shared a life of family and ministry. They are parents of four adult children, two sons-in-law, and grandparents of two granddaughters who bring them endless joy.

Jenni has dedicated her life to equipping and developing the next generation of leaders. She has served in both the Western Ontario District and the British Columbia and Yukon District in various churches as a family life pastor. She currently serves as the children’s and family ministries director for the BC and Yukon District of the PAOC. With a deep understanding of both the opportunities and challenges of ministry, Jenni is passionate about supporting pastors and leaders as they serve children, preteens, and families.

Leann Woelk is a children’s ministry specialist serving as the Mission Canada next gen children’s coordinator for the PAOC. As a speaker, writer, and certified INCM coach, she founded Handle with Care Ministries to train and support frontline ministry leaders. Living in Alberta, she loves finding joy in life’s ordinary moments and laughing through the ups and downs. Her favourite thing is spending time with her husband of 37 years, her two sons and their wives, and her grandkids.

Jeremiah is the assistant district superintendent with the Alberta and Northwest Territories district of the PAOC. He is a passionate and creative leader who believes that the church is the hope of the world. He uses collaboration, innovation, and inspiration to challenge churches and their leadership to engage in the only mission Jesus ever gave His church: making disciples.